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Marine Fish Species


Angelfish (Large) Angelfish (Dwarf) Anthias Bass & Groupers Basslets & Assessors Batfish Blennies Boxfish & Pufferfish Butterflyfish Cardinalfish Chromis Clownfish Damsels Dartfish Dragonets Eels Filefish Foxface Flatfish Frogfish Goatfish Gobies Grunts Hamlet Hawkfish Hogfish Jacks Jawfish Lionfish Parrotfish Pipefish Pseudochromis Rabbitfish Rays Scorpionfish Seahorse Squirrelfish Sharks Snappers Tangs Tilefish Triggerfish Wrasse

Basslets and Assessors

Basslets and Assessors are small, long bodied fish strongly resembling Anthias. Their care requirements, however, are closer to those of damsels. They should be kept individually, and generally not with other fish of similar shape and colour. Feeding is easy: they will generally eat any meaty foods offered. Good water quality should be maintained at all times.

Gramma melacara, also known as the Blackcap Basslet, is a small marine fish from the Western Central Atlantic.

This hardy fish is typically peaceful and can be kept in a reef aquarium. Care should be taken however to only add one fish to an aquarium as they are territorial and do not accept other members of the same, or similar looking, species in the same aquarium. Small shrimp also may get eaten by this fish. Because this fish likes to hide, they should only be kept in an aquarium with large amounts of live rock.

This fish can be kept in an aquarium that is 30 gallons or larger. If it is desired to keep more than one in an aquarium a tank that is at least 6 feet in length should be used and they should be added at the same time.

The royal gramma, Gramma loreto, is a very popular fish in the aquarium trade. The fish begins as a dark purple which fades to yellow. The royal gramma resembles the false gramma (Pseudochromis paccagnellae), with the two main differences between the two being that the false gramma has clear fins and does not fade, but rather has a distinct change in colour. Royal gramma averages slightly over 8 cm (3 inches) and has been tank bred. Their natural range covers the Bahamas, Venezuela, and the Lesser Antilles. They are carnivorous and eat most meat-based diets.

Due to their relatively peaceful nature, diet and small size, the royal gramma is considered an ideal inhabitant for most reef aquariums containing coral and other invertebrates. Notwithstanding this general statement, royal grammas can become aggressive towards tank-mates when kept in smaller nano reef tanks. They are, however, resistant to most diseases and make very good beginner fish.

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